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      02-08-2014, 08:37 AM   #1
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Windshield washer fluid...

Alert now up, needs washer fluid. I was thinking of getting the RainX kind but some guys said it would "trip" the monitor. Can I just use the supermarket blue kind?
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When you spend that much on a car it is stupid to talk about needs - nobody "needs" a 4 Series.
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      02-08-2014, 10:12 AM   #2
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Yes, you can use the "supermarket blue" kind. I had gallons of RainX, and the car would alert my it'd be low on windshield washer fluid, even after I refilled the reservoir. It was annoying to see that message even though I knew I had windshield washer fluid. The "supermarket blue" kind doesn't exhibit this behavior.

There's a thread on here with people complaining about the same issue with RainX.
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      02-08-2014, 10:29 AM   #3
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Thanks man! Appreciate it!
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When you spend that much on a car it is stupid to talk about needs - nobody "needs" a 4 Series.
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      02-19-2014, 02:21 PM   #4
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I have the same problem and I did not know until now that the RainX version is not good.
First time I had the dealer change the entire tank.
This time is the second time happening. I have just filled with Rain X solution(before I read this post).
Do you think the warning sign will go away once I drain the fluid and replace with the regular blue cheap ones @34.50 ?
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      02-19-2014, 03:37 PM   #5
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Wow, that's all I buy is the Orange Rain X stuff and we've never once seen the low level alert trigger in any of our BMWs. Good to know moving forward though. Is it the orange stuff you are talking about or are there different kinds of Rain X washer fluids? The Orange stuff has a really low temp rating.
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      02-19-2014, 05:45 PM   #6
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This is what I have put in.
In my case, the low washer warning came on, then I filled with this and now it does not go off.
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      02-19-2014, 07:02 PM   #7
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I don't use rain x anymore because it stained my AW car years ago
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      02-19-2014, 09:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWOOF View Post
I have the same problem and I did not know until now that the RainX version is not good.
First time I had the dealer change the entire tank.
This time is the second time happening. I have just filled with Rain X solution(before I read this post).
Do you think the warning sign will go away once I drain the fluid and replace with the regular blue cheap ones @34.50 ?
Yep, my advice is to give the blue windshield washer fluids a shot. You have nothing to lose. Good luck!
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      02-20-2014, 03:46 PM   #9
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Thanks guys. Will try.
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      02-20-2014, 04:42 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 34.50 View Post
Yep, my advice is to give the blue windshield washer fluids a shot. You have nothing to lose. Good luck!
except the benefits rain-x provides.
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      02-21-2014, 01:10 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape View Post
except the benefits rain-x provides.
Yep!

I was about to post a warning....my 2013 335i Xdrive just blew the washer sensor because I used that stuff...wtf!?

Oh well...blue fluid it is :/
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      02-21-2014, 01:42 PM   #12
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I just drained the entire rain x washer fluid and put the regular cheap blue stuff in the car.
Yep, still telling me washer fluid is low. Heading to the dealership. Grrrr
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      04-13-2014, 11:50 AM   #13
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My first washer fluid fill up after purchase, I used RainX Heavy Duty -25. Not long after, the low washer fluid warning would come on shortly after every start up. I filled the reservoir to the brim to no avail.

Service department assured me that when the RainX is gone and I switch to the regular blue stuff, the warning would go away. Being a bit impatient, I ran the sprayers until the reservoir was empty. I did this three more times with plain water to flush out the RainX, and then I filled it to the top with the regular blue stuff. The low washer fluid warning still comes on shortly after every start up.

Does it take time for the system to reset or recalibrate before it will shut off? Or does the sensor just need to be replaced?
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      04-13-2014, 01:35 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gregh View Post
My first washer fluid fill up after purchase, I used RainX Heavy Duty -25. Not long after, the low washer fluid warning would come on shortly after every start up. I filled the reservoir to the brim to no avail.

Service department assured me that when the RainX is gone and I switch to the regular blue stuff, the warning would go away. Being a bit impatient, I ran the sprayers until the reservoir was empty. I did this three more times with plain water to flush out the RainX, and then I filled it to the top with the regular blue stuff. The low washer fluid warning still comes on shortly after every start up.

Does it take time for the system to reset or recalibrate before it will shut off? Or does the sensor just need to be replaced?
It shouldn't have to recalibrate. I had the same issue with Rain X setting off my sensor this past winter as well. Eventually I topped off the washer fluid tank with some blue washer fluid and the warning never came back. You shouldn't have to empty out the reservoir as when I added the blue fluid my reservoir wasn't empty, so even a mixture of Rain X and blue fluid seemed to be enough to clear the warning light.
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      04-13-2014, 02:11 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHCCubs View Post
It shouldn't have to recalibrate. I had the same issue with Rain X setting off my sensor this past winter as well. Eventually I topped off the washer fluid tank with some blue washer fluid and the warning never came back. You shouldn't have to empty out the reservoir as when I added the blue fluid my reservoir wasn't empty, so even a mixture of Rain X and blue fluid seemed to be enough to clear the warning light.
As I said, I already did that and it did not work. My only conclusion at this point is that the sensor is malfunctioning.
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      04-25-2014, 07:17 PM   #16
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I stopped by my dealer's (Park Ave BMW) service location to buy some OEM washer concentrate, and the Parts guy was questioning why I was even buying it since they will refill the fluid for free. I bought it anyway since I didn't want to have to visit Service just to add windshield washer fluid. I think the concentrate cost $4.
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      08-18-2014, 08:02 PM   #17
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To follow up, I brought the car back to the dealer and they attempted to clean the sensor. It still wouldn't work, so they did a warranty replacement.

Lesson learned -- stick with the cheapo blue stuff.

The only part that bugs me is that they don't just own up to the problem. It's costing them, after all.
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      08-18-2014, 10:54 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Damn Dirty Ape View Post
except the benefits rain-x provides.
You can still get the Rain-X benefits while keeping the cheapo-but-safe "Blue Stuff" in your reservoir for on-the-move use only...that's what I do.

Rain-X glass cleaner, which has the same benefits, comes in a pump spray (12-14 oz.??) bottle available at most auto parts stores which I regularly use every 7-10 days to clean all the car windows b-4 I drive off for the day. If I (rarely) need window cleaning while driving I just use the "Blue" in the reservoir and spritz/wiper clean as I drive. (FYI: on the interior side of all the glass I use "Invisible Glass".)
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      08-26-2014, 11:21 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
I stopped by my dealer's (Park Ave BMW) service location to buy some OEM washer concentrate, and the Parts guy was questioning why I was even buying it since they will refill the fluid for free. I bought it anyway since I didn't want to have to visit Service just to add windshield washer fluid. I think the concentrate cost $4.
Do you have to literally schedule a regular service to have them top off your tank? My warning light is on too and I want to just go there and have them do it but I'm not waiting an hour for this.
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      02-05-2018, 01:39 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Medal View Post
Yep!

I was about to post a warning....my 2013 335i Xdrive just blew the washer sensor because I used that stuff...wtf!?

Oh well...blue fluid it is :/
The Rain-X orange was recently recommended to me. Found a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT filed in jersey 2 years ago about the destruction to the sensors found in most german cars.

FYI
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      02-05-2018, 02:05 PM   #21
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Just get the BMW one, it's not expensive and they can't blame aftermarket for clog jets, otherwise use the cheap blue stuff, mind you in Canada BMW actually sells purple ones(goes up to -45 celsius) instead of blue.
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      02-09-2018, 06:34 PM   #22
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The BMW concentrate is like $4. Heard too many horror stories to try and save a buck (literally.....$1). Dilute the concentrate according to your local temps (instructions are on the bottle). I use an old gallon container that used to contain RainX to mix my BMW concentrate with water. Unless you're in an area that is sub-zero temps, one bottle of BMW concentrate mixed with water fills the gallon jug at the correct ratio.
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